What factors enabled England to take the lead in industrialization? Compare industrial development in western Europe to industrial development in Eastern Europe focusing on the role of the government, the industrialist, and the workers.
Introduction: Great Britain took the lead in the revolution starting around 1750, making themselves the most technologically advanced country in all of Europe. The Industrial Revolution started in England and then spread to Europe and then eventually the rest of the world. Thesis: Many factors contributed to Britain’s rise, many factors within the country and many outside the country. By looking at these two main factors, one gains a better understanding of this unique tapestry in industrialization and Britain’s society.
I. Reasons within Britain
1. Britain had a strong worldwide position
Due to strength of trade primarily to and from the colonies
Highly established domestic system led to rapid industrial growth
Lots of ports and large navigable rivers
Large deposits of iron and coal
Rapid population growth
2. Economy
a. No tariffs helped industrialization rapidly grow
b. Britain’s economy was more like a free market, leading industrialization to flourish
c. Well-developed credit market
3. Agriculture
a. English farmers were very productive in 1700—only second to the Dutch
b. Before 1760, there was a period of bountiful crops and low food prices
c. Created a surplus of cash, available for investment
d. Goods within the country complemented the demand from other colonies
e. Mobile agricultural labor work converted into an industrial workforce
4. Government
a. stable government allowed for stable economy and good banks
b. monarchy and aristocratic oligarchy (age of Aristocracy) allowed for stable government
5. Inventions
a. Hargreaves: spinning Jenny
b. Arkwright: water frame
c. Newcomen: Steam engine
d. Watt: Steam engine (very important to iron and steele industries)
f. Henry Cort: puddling furnace
g. Inventions led to improvements in all industries and more efficient systems
6. Transportation
a. George Stephenson: locomotive-leads to railroad, which greatly aided shipping and transportation
b. Canals in the 1770s led to increased movement of goods.
II. Reasons outside of Britain (Continental Europe)
1.French Revolution
It hindered the countries of the mainland from becoming industrialized
It disrupted trade, created runaway in inflation, and fostered anxiety
War severed communications between Britain and the continent, making the continental countries unable to use new British technology
Isolated the position of Britain
2.Technology
The technology of Britain was so advanced that only Britain could understand it
Britain was so much further ahead of everyone, it was near impossible for them to catch up
3.Continental Governments
Government officials were skeptic of industrialization at first, so they did not encourage it
Continental Europe did not have a stable government
Wars and French revolution left government in a mess
4.Economy
Continental business people had a hard time finding large sums of money to finance new methods of transportation, etc. such as the railroad
Tariffs hindered trading and industrialization
Weak banks
5.Shortages
There was a shortage of labor workers accustomed to working in factories in continental Europe
Financial resources
Technology and engineers
Less rapid population growth
Conclusion: In looking at the factors that affected Britain’s rapid industrialization one can gain a better perspective on the industrial revolution on a whole. Although the industrial revolution began in Britain, it was very significant in Europe, affecting the entire world as time went on. The benefits of industrialization allowed Britain to become the most powerful nation in the world by the end of the nineteenth century and to possess an empire on which “the sun never set”.
What factors enabled England to take the lead in industrialization? Compare industrial development in western Europe to industrial development in Eastern Europe focusing on the role of the government, the industrialist, and the workers.
Introduction: Great Britain took the lead in the revolution starting around 1750, making themselves the most technologically advanced country in all of Europe. The Industrial Revolution started in England and then spread to Europe and then eventually the rest of the world.
Thesis: Many factors contributed to Britain’s rise, many factors within the country and many outside the country. By looking at these two main factors, one gains a better understanding of this unique tapestry in industrialization and Britain’s society.
I. Reasons within Britain
1. Britain had a strong worldwide position
- Due to strength of trade primarily to and from the colonies
- Highly established domestic system led to rapid industrial growth
- Lots of ports and large navigable rivers
- Large deposits of iron and coal
- Rapid population growth
2. Economya. No tariffs helped industrialization rapidly grow
b. Britain’s economy was more like a free market, leading industrialization to flourish
c. Well-developed credit market
3. Agriculture
a. English farmers were very productive in 1700—only second to the Dutch
b. Before 1760, there was a period of bountiful crops and low food prices
c. Created a surplus of cash, available for investment
d. Goods within the country complemented the demand from other colonies
e. Mobile agricultural labor work converted into an industrial workforce
4. Government
a. stable government allowed for stable economy and good banks
b. monarchy and aristocratic oligarchy (age of Aristocracy) allowed for stable government
5. Inventions
a. Hargreaves: spinning Jenny
b. Arkwright: water frame
c. Newcomen: Steam engine
d. Watt: Steam engine (very important to iron and steele industries)
f. Henry Cort: puddling furnace
g. Inventions led to improvements in all industries and more efficient systems
6. Transportation
a. George Stephenson: locomotive-leads to railroad, which greatly aided shipping and transportation
b. Canals in the 1770s led to increased movement of goods.
II. Reasons outside of Britain (Continental Europe)
1.French Revolution
- It hindered the countries of the mainland from becoming industrialized
- It disrupted trade, created runaway in inflation, and fostered anxiety
- War severed communications between Britain and the continent, making the continental countries unable to use new British technology
- Isolated the position of Britain
2.Technology- The technology of Britain was so advanced that only Britain could understand it
- Britain was so much further ahead of everyone, it was near impossible for them to catch up
3.Continental Governments- Government officials were skeptic of industrialization at first, so they did not encourage it
- Continental Europe did not have a stable government
- Wars and French revolution left government in a mess
4.Economy- Continental business people had a hard time finding large sums of money to finance new methods of transportation, etc. such as the railroad
- Tariffs hindered trading and industrialization
- Weak banks
5.ShortagesConclusion: In looking at the factors that affected Britain’s rapid industrialization one can gain a better perspective on the industrial revolution on a whole. Although the industrial revolution began in Britain, it was very significant in Europe, affecting the entire world as time went on. The benefits of industrialization allowed Britain to become the most powerful nation in the world by the end of the nineteenth century and to possess an empire on which “the sun never set”.